Goal Sequence photos: Sounders rally to beat Red Bulls

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC closed out a three-match homestand on the XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, as Seattle (8-3-2, 26 points) secured a 2-1 stoppage-time victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls (4-3-5, 17 points). With the win, Sounders FC retains its lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, with Sigi Schmid’s team one point ahead of Eastern Conference side D.C. United in the race for the best regular-season record in MLS. Additionally, Seattle has a three-point lead in the Western Conference over second-place Vancouver with one game in-hand. Today’s win is Seattle’s fist come-from-behind victory of 2015, and the Rave Green are now unbeaten in seven of their last eight league matches.

New York found the score-sheet first through forward Lloyd Sam, as the Red Bulls attacker headed home a deflected free-kick from teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips. Sam’s goal is the first strike that Sounders FC has conceded at home since March 14 against San Jose, breaking a scoreless streak of four consecutive home tilts in league play. The goal also ended a 2015 league-best 338-minute shutout streak for the Rave Green dating back to a 3-2 loss at Columbus Crew SC on May 9. Overall, Seattle has allowed just three MLS goals at home throughout 2015.

The home side fired back in the 70th minute after knocking on the door throughout the match. Sounders FC winger Marco Pappa slalomed past New York defender Chris Duvall before firing a shot over Red Bull netminder Luis Robles at his near post. The goal is Pappa’s second strike in as many games after lifting his side to a 1-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday. On the season, Pappa now has two goals and five assists.

Sounders FC continued applying pressure down the stretch, culminating in a dramatic stoppage-time winner from forward Chad Barrett. In the 91st minute, fullback Tyrone Mears served a cross from the right flank, finding an advancing Clint Dempsey. The Sounders FC Designated Player got his left foot to the ball, redirecting it across Robles’ goalmouth. Barrett was there at the far post to get a touch on the ball, sealing an emphatic 2-1 victory for the Rave Green in the final moments of the match. The strike was Barrett’s third of the year, with Dempsey providing his team-leading six assist of the campaign.

Following a three-match home swing, Sounders FC heads back on the road on Saturday, June 6 against Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City (5:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Rave Green will be without captain Brad Evans for that fixture, as it was announced during halftime of tonight’s contest that the Sounders FC defender has been called into Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. Men’s National Team side for a pair of international friendlies in Holland and Germany.

Seattle improved its record to 8-3-2 on the season and is unbeaten in seven of its past eight matches. With 26 points, Seattle regains the lead for the Supporters’ Shield on D.C. United (25 points), with one game in-hand. Sounders FC is the lone side in MLS to average at least two points per match (2.00).

Stefan Frei ended his scoreless streak of 338 minutes, the fourth-longest streak in club history and the longest for Sounders FC since 2012. It was the best mark in MLS this season. He leads MLS in wins (eight), shutouts (seven) and saves (52).

Lloyd Sam’s scoring tally in the 36th minute was the first goal allowed at CenturyLink Field by Seattle since March 14 against San Jose. Overall, Sounders FC is 5-1-1 at CenturyLink Field in 2015.

For the first time as a Sounder, Marco Pappa recorded a goal in consecutive matches following Wednesday’s winner against Colorado. He last accomplished this feat in MLS regular season play during the 2012 season with the Chicago Fire.

Brad Evans’ substitution in the 75th minute resulted in the club’s first action without its captain on the pitch during the 2015 campaign. Currently, Stefan Frei is the only player to play every minute of the club’s 13 matches.

Clint Dempsey’s assist in second-half stoppage-time places him in the team-lead with six, tying him for third league-wide in this category. Additionally, he ranks third in MLS with seven goals.

The match wrapped-up a three-match homestand for Sounders FC, all in the past nine days. The club earned seven points, posting a 2-0-1 record during the stretch.